CHN BULLETIN: BCTS LOGGING AT NADU AND LAWN HILL

British Columbia Timber Sales has posted logging blocks near Nadu Road and Lawn Hill. These blocks went before the Solutions Table where the application was vetted by representatives of the Haida Nation and Province of BC. The Haida Nation found the blocks had a variety of issues and did not approve them; the Province did approve the blocks and British Columbia Timber Sales has posted them to start the contractor bidding process that may lead to logging the areas. The bidding process closes November 30, 2017.

BCTS’ rationale to log the areas says, “that after much deliberation and discussion with the Council of the Haida Nation, Misty Isles Economic Development Society (MIEDS) and local residents, BC Timber Sales (BCTS) is moving forward with the auction”.

The Haida Nation disputes the outcome of the “deliberation and discussion”, which is to log the areas, as do other parties who took part in those discussions.

While the blocks meet current Land Use Objectives Order regulations, broader forest management issues have been brought to the Province for nearly a year – by both Haida and Islands’ communities – and yet remain unresolved.

As a result, earlier in 2017, the Council of the Haida Nation deferred the blocks for a variety of reasons, including the following:

The Nadu River and Lawn Hill blocks are within areas proposed for the Community Forest.

Over the past couple of years BCTS has been logging areas that have been allocated to the Community Forest. BCTS is logging these areas to meet the Provincial governments’ Market Pricing System obligations.

BCTS logging within the proposed Community Forest areas has been done without partnering with communities.

Areas close to communities have a limited amount of mature cedar available for the local economy including cultural use and there are concerns that these accessible areas are being logged too fast. Despite having almost a year to address this issue, no action has been taken to demonstrate or change the blocks in order to meet Community Forest principles jointly proposed by the CHN and communities.

Other concerns not addressed include questions about the visual impacts along the highway corridor, and how BCTS has applied strategies to protect red and yellow cedar rare site series within these areas.

To address the issues the CHN has, in part:

Tabled a set a of principles with the Province that would guide operations in the community forest which include the use of innovative harvesting practices, minimizing waste, managing the forest in recognition of the growing tourism industry, and ensure benefits from any logging are accrued to Islands communities. (see attached Principles)

Posted signs in the areas of the Nadu and Lawn Hill blocks indicate that logging may not proceed without the written permission, or a license issued by the Council of the Haida Nation.

Worked to ensure that all ages of cedar are maintained and sustained over the landscape and into the future. To further this, the Haida Gwaii Management Council requested a “cedar partition”, which was brought into effect under Provincial law by the Chief Forester on October 24 of this year.

The CHN is working with all Island communities to formalize a Community Forest where benefits from a sustainable harvest will benefit Islands’ communities.

PLEASE JOIN HAIDA NATION REPS TO TALK MORE ABOUT THESE CONCERNS AND OTHER FORESTRY ISSUES.